A year of new initiatives, strategic growth and serving members

Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric) continues to adapt to challenges while meeting demand and focusing on reliability and affordability for its members. 

In 2025, Basin Electric experienced significant new load interest across its service area. In response, the cooperative developed the Large Load Commercial Program to protect existing members by insulating them from the costs and risks associated with serving new large electric loads. The program provides clear and consistent guidance for members navigating large-load requests and was adopted by Basin Electric’s Board of Directors in June. 

At the same time, Basin Electric is making substantial investments in new generation to support traditional load growth and long-term system reliability. This period of generation construction to meet member needs across its nine state service territory places upward pressure on rates. In 2025, the Basin Electric Board of Directors authorized a Class A rate adjustment of $6 per megawatt-hour, or approximately 10%, beginning Jan. 1, 2026. This decision followed months of collaboration and open communication with members, whose input helped shape the adjustment. 

Strategic investments in generation and transmission

To meet growing demand, Basin Electric has taken proactive steps to expand its generation and transmission capacity. In 2025, the cooperative continued making significant investments through major capital projects and additional strategic investments across its system. These investments support long-term system resilience, enhance grid reliability, and accommodate increasing energy demand. Several notable projects and developments include: 

• Leland Olds Station Substation: A new 345-kilovolt (kV) substation, one of Basin Electric’s largest, was completed in November 2025. Located near Stanton, the 19.5-acre substation includes nine line terminals: two 230-kV lines connected to two 345/230-kV transformers and seven 345-kV transmission lines.
• Leland Olds Station-to-Tande Transmission Line: The new 162-mile, 345- kV transmission line in northwest North Dakota will connect the Leland Olds Station, near Stanton, to the Tande substation, near Tioga. The line creates a 345-kV loop around the north side of Lake Sakakawea where no 345-kV transmission exists today. Construction began in June 2025 and is expected to end in November 2026. 
• Pioneer Generation Station Phase IV: A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in October 2025 to celebrate the completion of the approximately 580-megawatt natural gas-fueled facility located in Williams County, North Dakota. The site combines combustion turbines and reciprocating engine units, giving Basin Electric flexibility to respond to traditional member load growth and demand while ensuring long-term grid stability.  
• Bison Generation Station: Progress continues on the Bison Generation Station. In late 2025, PCL Construction was selected as general contractor for the project. In addition, the Department of Environmental Quality approved an air permit, allowing construction to begin at the site. This $4 billion, 1,490-MW natural gas facility near Epping, will be Basin Electric’s largest solely- owned power plant. It is expected to begin operations in 2030.

Financial milestone

In October 2025, Basin Electric issued public bonds, marking only the second time in the cooperative’s history to do so. The issuance enabled Basin Electric to borrow $700 million, a key step in supporting long-term investments that strengthen the cooperative’s infrastructure and enable reliable, affordable electricity to its members. 

Carbon capture and environmental stewardship

Basin Electric continues to lead the world in CO₂ capture and storage. In August 2025, Dakota Gasification Company, a subsidiary of Basin Electric, broke the all-time world record for the amount of CO₂ sequestered. The new record set was 147.7 million standard cubic feet per day. Dakota Gas began sequestering CO₂ in February 2024.

In November 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved North Dakota’s Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) permit program, authorizing the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality to regulate the disposal of CCR in surface impoundments and landfills in lieu of the EPA. The program enforces the regulations of byproducts of coal combustion, such as coal ash, for electric generation purposes. Complying with the coal combustion residuals rule and all the other environmental rules allow Basin Electric to continue to include coal units in its fleet, providing reliable baseload generation to its members.

Innovation

Basin Electric remains committed to its all-of-the-above energy strategy, ensuring reliable, affordable power for members by prioritizing dispatchable resources like coal and natural gas, alongside wind and solar. In October 2025, the Wyoming Energy Authority and Governor Mark Gordon (R-WY) awarded Basin Electric $4 million for a front-end engineering and design study to explore a second unit at Dry Fork Station. The in-depth review will explore whether building a new unit is feasible, what technical work would be required, and how it could help meet the region’s growing energy needs. 

Looking ahead

Basin Electric remains focused on providing reliable and affordable power for its members. Through strategic investments, thoughtful decisions, and regulatory advocacy, the cooperative will continue to adapt, innovate, and invest to ensure long-term success.